Episode 17: Kristine Vejar and Molly de Vries – Indian textiles, natural dyeing, perfection and living a non-disposable life

I’m very excited to share the 17th episode of the Woolful podcast. Today we get to meet two wonderful fiber folk from here in the bay area, both women I’ve really loved getting to know and have had a special part in contributing to this community on both a local and global scale…Molly de Vries of Ambatalia and Kristine Vejar of A Verb For Keeping Warm.

Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Knitterly, a very special yarn shop created by Shelli Westcott, based in Petaluma California and online at shop.knitterly.net. I am always so amazed at the well curated selection of yarns, fibers and classes Shelli works so hard to provide all us fiber enthusiasts. Make sure to visit when in Petaluma and online at shop.knitterly.net

Fiber folk 1: Kristine has had a beautiful fiber journey, from India to Oakland and many places in-between. She’s has built a yarn, fiber and fabric shop, A Verb For Keeping Warm, where her days are often spent growing and honing her natural dye business. She’ll be releasing a book soon on natural dyeing, which I can’t wait to dive into. You can find her at averbforkeepingwarm.com and on Instagram @avfkw.

Man on the Street: For this week’s “Man on the Street” I asked a question, shared by Karli in our Raverly group. “If you were on a budget for your fiber goods, how would you go about continuing to buy and use natural/local yarns?” One of our Man on the Street team members Abby @abbygoodknits, had a great answer.

Fiber folk 2: Our next guest, Molly is so passionate and honest, which I’ve come to love as I’ve gotten to know her. She has a beautiful journey in self discovery and part of that has translated into her impactful business, Ambatalia. She’s on a mission to spread the love and simple pleasures of a non-disposable life. You can find her at ambatalia.com and on Instagram @ambatalia.

Giveaway: The winner of last week’s giveaway, is Taralynn Dixon! You’ve won a 2 year subscription to Taproot Magazine. Congratulations!

This week’s giveaway is sponsored by Ambatalia, and we’re giving away a collection of 5 assorted bento bags, which work perfect as project bags, as reusable bulk food bags or to carry any variety of special goods. To enter this giveaway, leave a comment below.

Thank you so much to everyone who has participated in the March knit along of the Moto vest. Tomorrow we’ll be kicking off the April knit along, a fun quick knit for kids and bunny lovers alike. We’ll be knitting Beau the Bunny, my newest Little Woolens pattern, a small toy bunny who’s ready for Spring. You can find more details on our Woolful Ravelry group and I’ll be posting a blog post launching the knit along as well.

Oh can’t wait to listen! I bought an apron of Molly’s at a local store here in Virginia a year or so ago and found her shortly after on Instagram. I love the apron because it doubles as my project bag when the project is huge and almost done and won’t for into any of other project bags.

this looks like another great podcast – so happy to have something interesting to listen to while knitting my motovest – I know the perfect someone for that bunny – just might have to join that KAL too!

Tuesday is the best day of the week,w hen I get to start it with a new Woolful podcast. Molly’s story resonated with me this morning, and I plan to listen again tonight after work.
Ashley, thanks for inspiring me so brightly every week!

OOhhhh, so excited that you interviewed Kristine in this week’s episode. I bought some of her indigo yarn at Stitches West a few years ago and then purchased some of the first batch of Pioneer as soon as it was available. I’ve made several lovely things with her yarns and can’t wait to someday visit the shop. I have so much respect for her process.

I’m always weaving, knitting, or sewing while listening to woolful every Tuesday and by the end of each episode I’m literally buzzing with inspiration! I can’t wait for these ladies books to come out. I will definitely be purchasing them!

Thank you for another wonderful podcast! It’s so interesting to hear the fiber journeys people have undertaken. I’ve been a knitter for many years, but am just beginning to dig into the craft. i’m especially loving learning about the breeds of sheep and their wool. Thank you for helping me become a more informed knitter!

Another amazing podcast. I usually don’t get a chance to comment, but today I wanted to make sure I did. What incredible journeys both of your guests have taken. I had heard about Verb before, but didn’t realize how learned or passionate Kristine is. And Molly’s story is also truly inspiring – to think she started out as a hairdresser, and sang to her family and friends at her 40th birthday party. She is someone we all should aspire to be more like – living our dreams!
Your new bunny design is fantastic. My grandkids will love them.
Thanks for all of your wonderful interviews. I always look forward to finding you on my iPhone on Tuesday mornings!
Judy

Just discovered your blog and podcasts! Have been binging on your podcasts –while knitting — of course! The bento bags are such lovely containers. Thanks for your interviews and for expanding my horizons!

I just started listening to the podcasts and I’m addicted! I had to pause in my binge so I could listen to this one though. These podcasts are maintaining my courage as I tackle my first garment- who knew cardigans could be so scary!

I always look forward to my email saying there is a new podcast! And I love Bento bags, I have tried to make them, but always come back to the ones o have bought byAmbatalia. They are awesome! And for so much more than knitting projects!

being very much into natural dyeing myself, I’m always delighted to listen to dyers. I was very interested in the stories about indigo vats, it reminds that as Spring is arount the corner, I should think about resuscitating my indigo vat. Ambatalia’s simple and clever designs gave me the urge to sew too!

Yay! I love Kristine’s shop and always make a special point to visit whenever I’m in the Bay. I suspected she was probably a pretty fascinating person–now I know. I believe Verb is having a fabric sale this Friday, too.

This episode was timely for me as I have been thinking of making waxed fabric etc to replace plastic wrap. I could also do waxed covers for food etc and not use plastic covers. Even small bits add up eventually don’t they.

Am totally enamored with your podcasts!! I thoroughly enjoy hearing about how others are creating beauty in their lives and fulfilling their dreams. Look forward every week to see who you are interviewing.

This was a great episode. I loved hearing Kristine’s ideas about different types of dyers, and then thinking, ‘What type of dyer will I be?’. Also truly enjoyed Molly’s story, attitude, and humility. Her aprons are beautiful and her simple ideas are inspiring.

For me, natural dyeing is all about the process behind it….walking through the fields and along the dirt roads, harvesting dye plants….sitting under the shade of a tree knitting while the dye pot brews….and the “ah” moment when I pull the yarn out of the dye pot. I loved hearing Kristine tell her journey into natural dyes. Next time I am in CA-I must go see her!

I truly enjoy your podcast. I wish I lived closer to AVFKW. I’ve heard the Knitmore Girls talk about the shop a lot and would love to visit. One of these days… Also, what a great prize! I hope I win. 🙂

Kristine and Molly’s reference to international textile traditions — furoshiki, backstrap looms and Rabari embroidery — reminded me of what a privilege it is to work at a textile museum. Each of our exhibitions has been an incredible education about traditional textiles and contemporary practices. I continue to discover just how much I still have to learn — like Molly said, we’re all beginners here in North America!

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this podcast and find myself feeling like I am in the coffee shop listening to the fiber artists talk. Thank you for making these podcasts so down to earth and yet so inspiring. You ask so many of the questions that I want to know about the artists.

Once again, another enjoyable and informative show. I’ve been trying to think of ways I could move to a less disposable lifestyle, simple things like not buying paper towels and hemming up some cloth squares and being more intentional with the composting for our garden. Your shows get a person thinking which is good.
Indigo vats- I didn’t even know they were a thing.

Kristine’s journey was so inspiring! I’m someone who has traveled and studied internationally, and the way that she brought together her talents with fiber and her travels is just beautiful. Thanks for sharing!

I really enjoyed being reminded and challenged once again about living a non disposable (or less disposable) life. It’s difficult sometimes amidst children, chores, and getting things done to remember the importance of being intentional about it.

I thoroughly enjoyed this podcast. Everyone has a story to tell, I loved hearing your guest’s tell theirs. I particularly loved Molly’s. I listed to this while ironing, just a wonderful way to pass time. So much good stuff. Thank you

Loved this podcast for it was fantastic to listen to their stories. Such great inspiration and have followed A Verb to Keep Warm of which to have just purchased a dress pattern. Thank you again for these fantastic podcast~

[…] Ambatalia. Created by Molly de Vries and located in Mill Valley California. Ambatalia has had a rich history, with it’s roots as a modern ecological textile good company, focused on pioneering sustainable, […]

I enjoyed the whole podcast (epiosde 17). I’ve actually listened twice as I found it educational in terms of creativity and some little tips about small textile businesses. It’s great to hear both women talk enthusiastically about natural materials and methods. I’m sure I will spot some of their work when I visit San Francisco in October.